Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the reflection that will be sent out to the people of St. Timothy this Thursday. This is not an easy text of scripture with which to grapple and I would like to hear your insights. Let's dialogue! Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”   7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.   9“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be g...

This is the sermon I preached Sunday, 11/10/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The text was Luke 20:27-38. “I can only imagine” are words that run throughout the song of that title by Mercy Me. In the song the imagining concerns what one will do when they see Jesus in heaven, in the church triumphant. We all wonder, don’t we, what that life will be like? This life we know, but that one? The Gospel of Luke continues to challenge us. During internship, at the pastors’ text study, we discussed what we thought it might be like in the afterlife. What are  we  expecting? It was certainly different from what Jesus’ challengers anticipated. One pastor’s response was, “I just want some answers. I want to ask questions.” Maybe you feel the same way. The challenge brought to Jesus by the Sadducees could be looked on as a kind of joke. Their example was so ridiculous and in their minds would blow the idea of a resurrection right out of the water, wouldn’t it? In theory, foll...